Over the past ten days Tāmaki Makaurau/ Auckland has been hosting the World Choir Games.
These, the 13th Games, bring together the largest number of choirs and nations in the world – 250 groups representing 42 countries. The event is both for competitive and non-competitive performance.
On Friday the Cathedral in Wellington, St John’s, played host to the multiple medal winners of the competition: UngKlang. This Danish Ensemble of young women offered a lunchtime concert to a sizeable audience who gave a standing ovation at the end of the session.
The group opened with a procession, each member – 9 in total – playing a wine glass filled with liquid as they walked. In the centre of the aisle the group stopped and began to sing; ethereal harmonies and magical sounds filled the space. The concert continued in this vein with different placings of singers offering a wonderful shifting kaleidoscope of beautifully blended vocals. A truly lovely and awe-inspiring experience to be present for.
The last piece of the concert was called “Sleep” and you can hear it below on the player. The recording has some extraneous sound but begins with the choir breathing.
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